---
title: "Certification marks symbols explained"
description: "Every certification marks symbol and what it means — 14 of them, with what each looks like and what happens if you ignore it."
url: https://atoneplace.net/symbol/certification/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Certification marks symbols

14 certification marks symbols, each with what it looks like and what it actually requires.

| Symbol | Looks like | Means |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Energy Star | A five-pointed star sitting inside a rounded blue rectangle, with the words ENERGY STAR beside it. | The product meets US Environmental Protection Agency efficiency criteria for its category. |
| Fairtrade Mark | A blue and green circle enclosing a black figure with an arm raised, resembling a person against a horizon. | The certified ingredients were bought on Fairtrade terms, including a minimum price and a premium paid to the producer organisation. |
| OEKO-TEX Standard 100 | A rectangular label with the words OEKO-TEX and STANDARD 100, a test number and the issuing institute. | Every component of the textile was tested for harmful substances and passed. |
| Woolmark | A ball of yarn drawn as several interlocking curved black strands. | The product is made from pure new wool and meets the Woolmark performance specifications. |
| NSF certification | The letters NSF inside a blue circle or oval. | Tested and certified by NSF against a public health or food equipment standard. |
| BSI Kitemark | A heart-shaped outline formed from a single looping line, resembling a kite, with BSI beneath. | BSI has tested the product and audits the factory that makes it. |
| GS mark (Geprüfte Sicherheit) | The letters GS in a rounded square, with the name of the testing body beneath. | Tested safety — a German voluntary mark requiring independent testing and factory surveillance. |
| Kosher certification (OU and others) | A letter U inside a circle for the Orthodox Union, a K inside a star, a K inside a circle, or one of dozens of other agency marks. | A certifying agency attests that the product is kosher, often with a letter alongside for the category. |
| Halal certification | Usually the Arabic word حلال or the word HALAL in a circle or crest, with the certifying body named. | A certifying body attests that the product complies with Islamic dietary rules. |
| USDA Organic seal | A circle divided with USDA across the top and the word organic below, in green and white or black and white. | At least 95% of the ingredients are certified organic under the US National Organic Program. |
| EU organic leaf | A leaf outlined by twelve white stars on a green background. | At least 95% of the agricultural ingredients are organic under EU rules. |
| Crossed grain (certified gluten free) | An ear of wheat inside a circle with a vertical bar or cross through it, usually with a registration number beneath. | Independently certified to contain no more than 20 parts per million of gluten. |
| Vegan Society sunflower | A stylised sunflower with the word Vegan beside or beneath it. | Registered with the Vegan Society: no animal ingredients and no animal testing at any stage. |
| Leaping Bunny | A rabbit in outline mid-leap, sometimes inside a circle of stars. | Certified cruelty free: no animal testing by the company, its suppliers or third parties after a fixed cut-off date. |

- [Energy Star](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cert-energy-star/) — The product meets US Environmental Protection Agency efficiency criteria for its category.
- [Fairtrade Mark](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cert-fairtrade/) — The certified ingredients were bought on Fairtrade terms, including a minimum price and a premium paid to the producer organisation.
- [OEKO-TEX Standard 100](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cert-oeko-tex/) — Every component of the textile was tested for harmful substances and passed.
- [Woolmark](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cert-woolmark/) — The product is made from pure new wool and meets the Woolmark performance specifications.
- [NSF certification](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cert-nsf/) — Tested and certified by NSF against a public health or food equipment standard.
- [BSI Kitemark](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cert-kitemark/) — BSI has tested the product and audits the factory that makes it.
- [GS mark (Geprüfte Sicherheit)](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cert-gs/) — Tested safety — a German voluntary mark requiring independent testing and factory surveillance.
- [Kosher certification (OU and others)](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cert-kosher-ou/) — A certifying agency attests that the product is kosher, often with a letter alongside for the category.
- [Halal certification](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cert-halal/) — A certifying body attests that the product complies with Islamic dietary rules.
- [USDA Organic seal](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cert-usda-organic/) — At least 95% of the ingredients are certified organic under the US National Organic Program.
- [EU organic leaf](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cert-eu-organic/) — At least 95% of the agricultural ingredients are organic under EU rules.
- [Crossed grain (certified gluten free)](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cert-gluten-free/) — Independently certified to contain no more than 20 parts per million of gluten.
- [Vegan Society sunflower](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cert-vegan-sunflower/) — Registered with the Vegan Society: no animal ingredients and no animal testing at any stage.
- [Leaping Bunny](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cert-leaping-bunny/) — Certified cruelty free: no animal testing by the company, its suppliers or third parties after a fixed cut-off date.